50 



least eighty bushels to the acre. This, however, is only in keep- 

 ing with other things on that farm, which in almost every respect 

 challenges competition. 



We also find that more than usual attention is given to the cul- 

 tivation of roots, carrots, ruta bagas, &c., as food for cattle. 

 Farmers, like other men, experience difficulty in changing their 

 course ; and although practical men had learned that roots could 

 be raised at the rate of from thirty to fifty tons per acre, and sci- 

 entific men had proved that carrots, from one acre, would make 

 more beef than hay from three, perhaps four acres, still farmers 

 hesitated at making the experiment. This was natural and right. 

 The growing of roots is expensive. It was something to which 

 farmers were not accustomed ; and until the experiment was suc- 

 cessfully performed under their eyes, they were justified in going 

 forward Avith great caution in the new path. From the success 

 that has attended the efforts of several of our most distinguished 

 cultivators, it may reasonably be expected that more attention will 

 be paid to this branch of agriculture, and that it will prove emi- 

 nently profitable. 



In this connection we would mention Mr. Motley's last year's 

 crop of ruta bagas, twenty-four hundred bushels from three acres. 

 We have also seen the same land devoted to the same root this 

 year. From its appearance in September, we judged it might 

 yield an equal amount. We have observed good fields of ruta 

 bagas elsewhere ; but for extent, for evenness and thoroughness of 

 cultivation, for its clean and beautiful appearance, none that 

 equalled this. 



We are gratified to notice the increasing patronage of agricul- 

 tural papers, and the multiplication of books treating of farming, 

 gardening, implements and education. Farmers understand, that, 

 if they wovild improve their business, they must first improve them- 

 selves, and learn to cultivate the soil on principles established by 

 science. The time has gone by, when men laughed at book-farm- 

 ing. Agriculture, as an Art, cannot be improved without a com- 

 petent knowledge of its theory. The practical sagacity that ac- 

 complishes so much in difficult conditions, has no insight into the 

 mysteries of science. If a soil is exhausted by repeated crop- 

 pings, practical sagacity does not know how best to restore its 

 fertility. There must be a higher culture of the intellect, under 



